Florida sues OpenAI and CEO Sam Altman over ChatGPT safety concerns

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier filed a civil lawsuit on June 1 against OpenAI and its chief executive Sam Altman, making Florida the first U.S. state to bring such a case. The complaint lists ten counts, including fraud, negligence and public disorder, and alleges that the company placed profit ahead of safety, exposing users—particularly minors—to risks of addiction, impaired cognition, suicide and violence. The suit seeks to hold Altman personally liable for harms caused by ChatGPT, which prosecutors have also linked to a 2025 university shooting in Florida.

OpenAI responded that its systems incorporate strict safety measures such as age‑estimation tools, parental‑control features and ongoing improvements to detect psychological distress. The company denies responsibility for criminal planning conducted with its technology. The lawsuit is part of a broader anti‑AI campaign in Florida led by Governor Ron DeSantis and could set precedents for future regulation of artificial‑intelligence products in the United States.